While assorted species of otters live on all but two continents, the only species we have in Iowa today is the North American river otter. These chummy, playful mammals are characterized as clever and mischievous, but there’s a lot more to an otter than that!

They may look cute and cuddly, but don’t let the playfulness of Iowa’s river otters trick you. Otters are serious swimmers and fearless, voracious predators. Here are some cool facts you may not have known about Iowa’s swimming weasels.

Our MissionTo conserve and enhance ournatural resources in cooperationwith individuals and organizationsto improve the quality of life in Iowa and ensure a legacy forfuture generations.